Ouabain impairs cancer metabolism and activates AMPK-Src signaling pathway in human cancer cell lines.

In addition to the well-known cardiotonic effects, cardiac glycosides (CGs) produce potent anticancer effects with various molecular mechanisms. We previously show that ouabain induces autophagic cell death in human lung cancer cells by regulating AMPK-mediated mTOR and Src-mediated ERK1/2 signaling pathways. However, whether and how AMPK and Src signaling interacts in ouabain-treated cancer cells remains unclear.

Design, synthesis and antiproliferative activity of a novel class of indole-2-carboxylate derivatives.

Based on the chemical structure of Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a novel class of indole-2-carboxylate derivatives was designed, synthesized and assayed for antiproliferative activity in cancer cells in vitro. The biological results showed that some derivatives exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against HepG2, A549 and MCF7 cells. Notably, the novel compounds, methyl 6-amino-4-cyclohexylmethoxy-1H-indole-2-carboxylate (6e) and methyl 4-isopropoxy-6-methoxy-1H-indole-2-carboxylate (9l) exhibited more potent antiproliferative activity than the reference drugs PQQ and etoposide in vitro, with IC50 values ranging from 3.

Design, synthesis and in vitro and in vivo antitumour activity of 3-benzylideneindolin-2-one derivatives, a novel class of small-molecule inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 interaction.

A novel class of small-molecule inhibitors of MDM2-p53 interaction with a (E)-3-benzylideneindolin-2-one scaffold was identified using an integrated virtual screening strategy that combined both pharmacophore- and structure-based approaches. The hit optimisation identified several compounds with more potent activity than the hit compound and the positive drug nutlin-3a, especially compound 1b, which exhibited both the highest binding affinity to MDM2 (Ki = 0.093 μM) and the most potent antiproliferative activity against HCT116 (wild type p53) cells (GI50 = 13.

Salidroside stimulates osteoblast differentiation through BMP signaling pathway.

Salidroside (SAL) is one of main active components of Rhodiola rosea L. and possesses diverse pharmacological effects. However, the direct role of SAL in bone metabolism remains elusive.